The company attributed the revenue hike in part to higher sales related to the merger, between Spartan Stores and Nash-Finch Company completed Nov. 19, 2013.

For fiscal 2014, the company reported profit of $58.6 million, or $1.55 per share, on revenues of $7.92 billion.

"We are very pleased with our year-end results and the progress we have made in the first year of operations as SpartanNash, said Chief Executive Dennis Eidson, in a statement. "We returned our Michigan supermarkets to positive comparable store sales growth, delivered better than expected adjusted earnings from operations and achieved key integration milestones."

In SpartanNash's distribution business, sales increased 80 percent to $853.1 million in the fourth quarter from $473.9 million a year earlier. On the retail side. revenues climbed 34 percent to $544.1 million in the fourth quarter from $406 million a year earlier. Sales at stores, opened at least a year, rose 0.4 percent.

Net sales for the company's military food distribution business more than doubled to $565.4 million compared to $248.6 million a year earlier.

For fiscal 2015, the company anticipates adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.89 to $1.98, excluding merger integration costs and other one-time expenses and gains. It expects capital expenditures to be in the range of $75 million to $80 million, and plans to close up to 10 under performing stores.

Eidson will discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal 2014 financial results in a conference call with analysts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 4. a.m. A live webcast of this conference call will be available on the companys website, spartannash.com.

Small house with big pipe organ sells, buyer moving here from Seattle

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - When David Luttinen of suburban Seattle saw an online video of the "organ house" on Grand Rapids' West Side, he was hooked on the idea of living with a 2,300-pipe church organ.

Luttinen, a retired bus driver, is selling his house in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., and plans to move to Grand Rapids as the new owner of the house that drew international attention for the 32-rank Kimball church organ that takes up half of the bungalow at 1117 Third St. NW. Guy Vander Wagen plays a a 3200 pipe, wind powered pipe organ that is in a modest west side Grand Rapids, Mich. home.Chris Clark | chrisclark@mlive.com"A motivating factor for purchase of the home in Grand Rapids is the beauty of the installation and quality of work," Luttinen said in an email explaining why he and his wife are leaving their friends and family behind for West Michigan.

"The pipes have not been marred by amateur hands, the organ is maintained to excellent standards, and the home itself is a simple work of art."

Luttinen said they plans to close on their pending offer for the house after they sell their current home.

"It is obvious that people do not understand how difficult it is to get time scheduled on a pipe organ these days," wrote Luttinen, who has played the organ since high school.

It's a happy ending for the home owners and organ's installers, Don Haan, owner of Haan Pipe Organ, and his partner, Guy Vander Wagen.

Luttinen is the ideal owner for the house and the organ, said Haan, who spend countless hours over 2½ years installing and tuning the giant instrument. He and Vander Wagen spent several hours with Luttinen going through the house and the organ when he visited in December.

"We would really like to see this guy get it," said Haan. Luttinen, like Tufts, also intends to invites area musicians to recitals in the house, he said. "It's going to be just like it was before except with a different owner.

For Luttinen, the purchase is a mission to preserve the house and its unique legacy.

"My intention is to keep the instrument exactly as it is today, keep Guy and Don involved in its maintenance, and continue to have concerts by the AGO (American Guild of Organists.)"
.
Luttinen said he was alarmed by some online comments that suggested the organ should be sold or melted down for recycling. "That made my blood boil," he said.

"I have played pipe organs for 47 years as a hobby, though not worthy enough to put on YouTube," he said. "I have saved two theater pipe organs from being taken to the dump but was unsuccessful finding a way to put them together, so they are now under the care of another aficionado."

For Realtor Mark Douglas, the pending sale marks the end of a busy time of taking calls from organ lovers all over the globe. Douglas, who listed the house for $129,000, said he was unable to disclose the selling price until closing.

"We did have a couple of serious inquiries, but there were logistical problems with bringing those deals together," said Douglas, who has had the house on the market for four months.

While some buyers wanted to turn the house into an entertainment venue or corporate meeting space, they would have encountered zoning restrictions in the quiet neighborhood, he said.

Douglas said he enjoyed showing the house to accomplished organists who wanted to put the big instrument through its paces as part of the showing.

"I got to sit there and listen to a private concert on more than one occasion," he said.

IRS appointment-only system tested in Grand Rapids, U.P.

DETROIT, MI -- The IRS is converting several Tax Assistance Centers around the country to appointment-only help instead of walk-in service in the wake of budget cuts that have reduced resources.

This week, the agency announced two of those locations would be in Michigan. They are the offices in Grand Rapids, at 3251 N. Evergreen Dr. NE; and in Marquette at 1055 W. Baraga Ave.

This means that these facilities no longer serve those who come unannounced, unless they are picking up forms or making payments.

The IRS is hoping an appointment-only rule will avoid long waits and is testing the process during the busiest time of the year.

"Our hope is that the test location in Grand Rapids will provide better use of our resources to help people get the assistance they need, and to avoid long lines and wait times," said Luis D. Garcia, IRS spokesman.

Taypayers can make an appointment for the Grand Rapids office by phone (616) 365-4700 or email Grand.Rapids.Appointment@irs.gov or the Marquette office at (906) 228-7845 or Saginaw.Appointment@irs.gov.

He said the agency is betting that an appointment system will help taxpayers by allowing them to know in advance that they can get the service they need.

The first come-first served process typically in place at most IRS offices cannot guarantee when or if a taxpayer can receive assistance. As a result, taxpayers can wait an hour or longer in line.

The IRS operates more than 350 walk-in locations nationwide, including four in Michigan: Detroit, Flint, Saginaw and Traverse City. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

At the test locations, taxpayer services will continue to be offered without an appointment for those picking up limited forms or making a payment, but the IRS urges taxpayers to use IRS.gov to get forms they need and Direct Pay to make a payment whenever possible. All other services will require an appointment.

Demolition underway at former Grand Rapids Press building

[Posted by Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com March 03, 2015, 2:24 PM]

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Demolition crews are starting work at the former Grand Rapids Press headquarters with the goal of clearing the site by the end of May, a spokeswoman for Michigan State University said Tuesday, March 3.

There are few signs of demolition outside of the chain link fence that was erected around the 49-year-old building, but work crews are inside to remove asbestos and other materials, said Kat Cooper, director of communications for MSU Auxiliary Enterprises.

Exterior demolition will begin by the end of March, Cooper said. Unlike some large demolitions, there will be no implosions or explosions. Instead, a crane will be used to dismantle the building, she said.

The exterior demolition will begin when the workers remove the copper cladding on the upper floors of the building, Cooper said. That material will be retained for possible re-use on the interior of the building or recycled, she said.

"We're trying to be as sustainable as we can be," Cooper said. The steel, concrete and cement blocks will be recycled for re-use, she said. Only soft materials such as carpeting and ceiling tiles will not be re-used, she said.

The 173,840-square-foot former Press headquarters opened in 1966 amid urban renewal construction on the north side of downtown throughout the 1960s and '70s. In 2012, the owners of The Press sold the building and five parking lots to MSU for $12 million.

MSU plans to house 44 project investigator teams in the new research facility, which is being built for the school's College of Human Medicine with a target completion date of late 2017. The university currently houses 18 research teams in the Van Andel Institute.

Cooper said no date has been set for a ground breaking on the new facility.

The university also will seek "RFQs," or requests for qualifications, from developers who are interested in two other building sites that will be created on the 4.3-acre site.

Renovations progressing at brewery in former Saline church

[Posted by Matt Durr | mattdurr@mlive.com March 03, 2015, 2:24 PM]

Bright, vibrant light shines through the stained-glass windows of the former Stone Arch building in Saline. The towering windows and high ceilings have made the building at 117 S Ann Arbor St. a destination for social events like weddings for years.

Over the last few weeks, the owners of Salt Springs Brewery have been renovating the former church so it can become the home of a microbrewery and restaurant. And while it may not seem like the ideal location for a restaurant and bar, the owners see the space as the perfect setting for their plans.

"It's a historic building and when you go into dining establishments, they have to work so hard to create the theme," said Ron Schofield, one of the owners of Salt Springs Brewery. "When you walk into that room, that's the room, all we're doing is adding some paint, lighting, things of that nature."

Schofield, along with his partners Ed Brosius and Mark Zadvinskis, purchased the building in January and immediately began working on the space. City records show the property was bought for $700,000.

Because of the beauty created by the stained glass and the open spaces, Schofield thinks it will be a big hit when guests start arriving this summer. The roughly 6,200-square-foot space will feature two floors with the restaurant on the main floor and the kitchen and bathrooms downstairs.

An upstairs loft area could also be used for private dining or large gatherings, Schofield said.

But before guests can arrive, Schofield and his partners are working to renovate the building to house the entire brewery on site as well as a kitchen.

"All the beer that we serve here is going to be produced in the brew house. It's one of the reasons why we had to make such changes, is because we have to be able to fit all the manufacturing equipment in here," said Brosius, who is also the brewer for Salt Springs Brewery.

Renovation efforts began in January and thus far crews have been working to transform several areas of the building so that it can safely house all the equipment needed. Some walls have been knocked out to create space for a lift area.

While some changes have to be made in order for the building to be up to code and ready to be used as a restaurant, Schofield said it's important that the building retain as much of its character as possible.

"The church is part of the fabric of the community on many, many levels," Schofield said. "We have to be respectful of that because we want people to want to come here.

"We don't want people to be offended that we turned a holy place into a brewery. We want to be good stewards of the building and we want to be good neighbors."

Schofield said there was some discussion about moving into other places in Saline, but in the end, the Stone Arch building was the right fit for the operation.

"Owning the property was important given the scope of the project," Schofield said. "This is a big investment and there's a lot of money going into it."

Once it's up and running, there is a possibility that the space could hold 200 people. An outdoor beer garden is also planned to open later this summer. Along with a full menu designed by an executive chef, the company will be able to sell its own beer once everything is operational.

"We're designating this as a microbrewery as opposed to a brew pub," Brosius said. "We can't have a class C liquor license because we're a manufacturer, but it does allow us to self-distribute as long as our total production stays below 1,000 barrels a year."

Gas prices down from 2015 high mark, remain volatile in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Gas prices have backed off the highest average of the year only days after a recent hike.

The Grand Rapids area's average price for a gallon of gas is about $2.42 cents Tuesday afternoon, according to GasBuddy.com. That's 7 cents cheaper than last Thursday's price spike to $2.49 a gallon.

There are several stations across West Michigan offering a haven of cheaper prices. GasBuddy users report some as low as $2.32 just off I-196 in Grand Rapids and on the city's Southeast Side.

Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy, writes the volatility in West Michigan prices and those across the U.S. can be attributed to multiple refinery issues and the continued transition to a cleaner, summertime gasoline.

"The spring spike has hit pumps across the nation, and it certainly has motorists wondering what in the heck is going on," DeHaan said in a release.

"Meanwhile every single state -- all 50 of them -- saw a price increase in the last week, with a common theme behind the increases: refinery this, refinery that."

DeHaan expects prices to continue to rise over the next several weeks though the Memorial Day holiday while refinery maintenance continues. In the meantime, expect price spikes and the slow fall thereafter.

Prices average $2.46 in Holland and $2.45 in Muskegon.

Andrew Krietz covers breaking, politics and transportation news for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.

Beer made with civet poop coffee on tap at West Michigan brewery

COMSTOCK PARK, MI -- Believe it or not, the world's most expensive coffee is made with Indonesian cat poop. Now, you can drink it in a Michigan beer.

In February, Perrin Brewing Co. in Comstock Park released an imperial brown ale called Big Konas, a 7.4 percent alcohol-by-volume beer made with Indonesian civet coffee and cacao nibs from Equador and Ghana.

Civet coffee, or "Kopi Luwak," is made from coffee cherries that were eaten, digested and defecated by the Asian palm civet, a cat-like tree-dweller whose digestive tract partially ferments the beans. The result is a smooth, sought-after taste.

Collected seeds are washed, roasted and sold for top dollar around the world. Perrin made a 30-barrel batch of Big Konas using civet beans from California importer Luwak Café as a fourth installment in its "Killing Craft" series of specialty beers.

Due to the expense of raw materials -- imported civet coffee sells for between $100 and $600 per pound in the U.S. -- the beer is a loss leader for the brewery, which made Big Konas partially as reward for top-selling accounts.

All told, it's a beer six months in the making.

"This beer has probably the most sourcing and recipe design" of any Perrin beer, said head brewer John Stewart.

"Usually, you don't go through an interview process with the raw materials people to see if they will even source it to you."

Stewart said Perrin was careful to source free-range civet beans. The strange brew has become controversial because the commercial viability of the odd crop has led to civet capture and caging in order to meet demand.

Big Konas has a smooth, balanced flavor with a hint of sweetness and a noticeable lack of astringency sometimes found in coffee beers, said Stewart. The beer was rounded-out with award-winning Pacari chocolate. An 8-ounce pour at the pub is $6.

The Perrin pub at 5910 Comstock Park Drive NW should have the beer on tap for another month. Stewart said the brewery's popular Grapefruit IPA will be released next week. The hopped-up version of Grapefruit IPA, Juicy, another Killing Craft series beer, will be released later in the year.

HOLLAND, MI -- Motus Integrated Technologies, an automotive interiors supplier that spun off of Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI), has acquired Leon Automotive Interiors, a company that makes armrests and other automotive interior parts.

Leon operates a plant employing several hundred workers at 4901 Clay Avenue SW. It also operates a sales and engineering office in Livonia and manufacturing facilities in Ramos Arizpe, Arteaga; and Saltillo, Mexico. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Motus, which acquired the headliner and sun visor business from JCI last year, is headquartered at JCI's former Maplewood facility at 88 E. 48th Street. Motus also operates plants in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico; Uberherrn, Germany; and Creutzwald, France and has production capabilities in Cottondale, Alabama.

"Through the acquisition, Motus diversifies and expands its product offering, customer base and technical capabilities, and adds a highly complementary and strategic set of manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Michigan," the company said in a press release issued Tuesday, March 3.

"Leon, which will continue to do business as a stand-alone company and operate as a subsidiary of Motus, will benefit from Motus' operating expertise, launch capabilities and complementary manufacturing footprint," the statement said.

"Through the acquisition of Leon, we are enhancing our already experienced and dedicated team, and we are expanding our product portfolio with the addition of key, high-quality interior components and production capabilities," said Shannon White, President and CEO of Motus.

Leon makes decorative soft-trim interior components, including door and console armrests, instrument panel trim, interior handles and other decorative interior components. In 2014, the company supplied armrests to more than 50 vehicle nameplates, producing the dominant share of door and console armrests for the North American market.

"This acquisition is consistent with our growth strategy and commitment to providing best-in-class quality, service and innovation to OEMs globally," White said.

The siblings head the family-owned Walker-based Meijer Inc. supercenter chain with 213 locations across a five-state Midwest footprint. The retailer doesn't release its annual revenues, or any other financial information, which leaves publications like Forbes to estimate the Meijers' wealth.

Bernice DeVos Heys greets her brother, Amway co-founder Rich DeVos, during a meet and greet for his new book, Simply Rich, at Baker Book House on Tuesday, May 20, 2014. (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com)Shandra Martinez | smartinez@mlive.com

Doug and Hank Meijer, who have grown the company launched by their grandfather Hendrik and father Frederik, earned a self-made score of 3.

DeVos scored a perfect 10 for the self-score criteria. He and best friend Jay Van Andel co-founded the Ada-based Amway. The family-owned business recently reported 2014 sales of $10.8 billion.

There are a record 1,826 billionaires with an aggregate net worth of $7.05 trillion, up from $6.4 trillion a year ago, according to Forbes. Topping the list again is Bill Gates, who has held the title for 16 of the past 21 years.

His fortune grew to $79.2 billion, an increase of $3.2 billion over last year.

Costco moving from AmEx to Visa; here's what you need to know

If you're shopping at Costco, you'll need a new credit card to pay for those family-sized packs of chicken breasts or toilet paper.

After only accepting American Express for the past 16 years, the retailer is switching to Visa and will use Citigroup as its exclusive provider of co-branded credit cards.

Costco is a large and influential chain. It is the world's second-largest retailer by revenue and has 671 locations around the world, including 474 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. For an annual fee of $55 to $110, shoppers get access to groceries in bulk sizes, as well as appliances, jewelry, home goods and other products.

The switch from AmEx to Visa could mean changes for some of those customers.

Here are the things you need to know:

WHAT WILL CHANGE?

Costco will only accept Visa credit cards at its stores starting April 1, 2016. Customers also will be able to use Visa and MasterCard debit cards or pay in cash. American Express credit cards will no longer be accepted on that date. That's a hit to AmEx. Last year, Costco accounted for 8 percent of American Express-billed business, 10 percent of its cards in force and 20 percent of its worldwide loans.

Citigroup is also expected to take over the existing American Express Costco credit cards.

WILL I HAVE TO REAPPLY FOR A COSTCO CREDIT CARD?

Costco hasn't said yet whether people will have to reapply for its rewards credit card. Citigroup said it plans to make the transition from AmEx to the Citi's Visa card as "seamless" as possible.

Costco card holders probably won't need to reapply, industry experts say. However, a small number of Costco card holders won't be approved for a Citi card. American Express and Citi have different credit standards and a person who might have qualified under AmEx might not be approved under Citi. The number of people affected is likely to be small, however, since American Express' qualifications are some of the highest in the industry.

WHY DID COSTCO DO THIS?

When its agreement came up for renewal, AmEx and Costco were unable to reach a deal that both sides liked.

WHY ANNOUNCE THIS A YEAR AHEAD?

After the announcement last month that Costco was ending its relationship with American Express, "we wanted to reassure everyone that we had another deal in the works," said David Sherwood, director of finance and investor relations at Costco.

WILL THE CITI CARD OFFER SIMILAR REWARDS AS AMEX?

That is still to be determined, but industry experts say it is likely. As with the American Express card, the new Citi card will have no annual fee, Costco said. And as with AmEx, the new card will serve as a membership card.

With the AmEx card, Costco customers get 3 percent cashback on fuel purchases, 2 percent back on restaurants and eligible travel and 1 percent cashback on all other purchases. The cashback comes in the form of a check issued every February. Customers can use the check for goods at a Costco checkout line or redeem it at the customer service desk for actual cash.

The cashback program on the American Express card was good for Costco because customers would use their checks to buy more Costco goods. Citi also has a long history of issuing credit cards with cashback programs.

"It makes sense from Costco's perspective to have the cashback program," said Ken Paterson, of Mercator Advisory Group, a banking industry consulting firm.

WHAT ABOUT THE CARD I HAVE NOW?

Any cashback rewards earned on the Costco American Express card will be valid, Costco said. Cardholders have until August 31, 2016 to redeem the rewards that are issued in February 2016.

The state was represented by Dearborn-based Ford Motor Co., Detroit-based General Motors, Grand Rapids-based Steelcase, Kalamazoo-based Stryker and Benton Harbor-based Whirlpool Corporation. None of the publicly-traded companies made the magazine's top 50 list, which was topped by Apple, Google and Berkshire Hathaway, respectively.

"It's the definitive report card on corporate reputation," said Mark Hays, in a Fortune video explaining the benefits of the list.

He is the senior principal of the Hays Group, a global management consulting firm that surveys executives, directors and analysts from a total of 692 companies in 30 countries to determine the list.

"We know the reputation of a company has an impact on the ability of a company to attract and retain talent," Hays said. "People are anxious to get in the door and take advantage of the opportunity to work for a successful employer that a 'most admired company' can provide. They may be even willing to accept lower salary offers in terms of base pay that may be available elsewhere. There are real tangible benefits."

Respondents who take the Hays survey rate their industry peers and competitors on nine criteria: Innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, long-term investment, financial soundness, quality of products and services and global competitiveness.

Steelcase CEO Jim Keane called the Grand Rapids office furniture giant's ninth year on the list a major recognition of its efforts on many fronts, from environmental to innovation.

"We feel it is a testament to our employees worldwide, and their commitment to innovation and solutions that help unlock human promise," Keane said in a statement.

Steelcase ranked fifth under the home equipment and furnishings industry sector, while Whirlpool retained its top spot in the category.

Whirlpool Corporation's inclusion on the list for the fifth consecutive year reiterates the appliance maker's history of conducting responsible business since its beginnings more than 100 years ago, Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool CEO, said in a statement.

"Our talented employees around the world create exceptional products that continue to be at the forefront of the industry," Fettig said. "We are proud to see our ongoing social responsibility initiatives recognized and we are committed to continued success in 2015."

Here is where the five companies landed on the 2015 list:

Company: Ford Motor CoCity: DearbornRanking: 6 under the motor vehicles sector, up from 8 last year. Top attribute: people management.Overall score: 5.91
Industry leaders: Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen took the top three spots, in that order.

Company:General MotorsCity: DetroitRanking: 7 in the motor vehicles sector, down from 4 last yearTop attributes: social responsibility and global competitiveness. Overall score: 5.68 Industry leaders: Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen took the top three spots, in that order.

Company:SteelcaseCity: Grand RapidsRanking: 5 under the home equipment and furnishings industry sector, down from 4 last year.Overall score: 6.17Top attributes: innovation, social responsibility, quality of management, and quality of product/services.Industry leaders: Whirlpool, Fortune Brands Home & Security and Tupperware brands took the top three spots, in that order.

Company:StrykerCity: KalamazooRanking: 6 in the medical products and equipment sector, down from 4. Overall score: 5.76Top attribute: quality of management.Industry leaders: Abott Laboratories, 3M and St Jude Medical took the top three spots

Company: WhirlpoolCity: Benton Harbor Ranking: 1 in the home equipment, furnishing industry category, unchanged from last year. Overall score: 6.9Top attributes: innovation, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment value and quality of products and services.Industry leaders: Whirlpool, Fortune Brands Home & Security and Tupperware brands took the top three spots, in that order.

Five things you didn't know about Keeler's Garage in Springport

SPRINGPORT, MI -- If you live in Springport and have a car, chances are you know Steve Keeler.

Keeler, 63, is the manager and lone mechanic at Keeler's Garage on Gibbs Road, just east of downtown Springport. The shop is the only auto repair business within 10 miles of the village.

The shop opened in 1954 under the direction of Keeler's father, Charles. Now retired, Charles maintains ownership of the business, but it's Steve who handles everything from changing tires and oil changes to ordering parts and assisting customers.

Because he is a one-man show, Keeler said he doesn't do major repairs, such as front-end alignments, transmissions or engine replacements. However, he does handle all the basic needs for local customers.

"I do minor repairs; things like brakes, tune-ups, front ends," he said. "And I do a little bit of lawn mower repair during the summer."

• The business has been located in the same site throughout its six decades. It started off as a gas station. First it was a Phillips 66 station, then it was a Sunoco and finally it was a Union 76. Keeler's stopped selling gas in the late 1970s. Keeler's also was a dealership for various lawn mower companies in the past, including Toro and Simplicity. "When all the big-box stores came in, we couldn't handle enough supplies and lawn mowers to keep up," Keeler said.

• When it was a gas station, Keeler's provided full service, just as most gas stations did in the '40s, '50s and '60s. "We used to pump the gas, check the oil, wash the windshield and check all your belts. And gas was only like 40 or 50 cents a gallon in those days," Keeler said.

• Keeler said he has hundreds of regular customers, many of whom are Springport Public Schools employees. Keeler often picks up school employees' cars at the school, takes them to the shop for repairs, and then returns them to school before the end of the day. "It's very convenient for them," he said, adding that the customers can stop in later and pay him.

• Although Keeler currently is the lone employee, the business has employed about 70 people during its 60 years of business, including four generations of the Keeler family. "We had a reunion last July; I invited back all of the employees," Keeler said. "Out of the 70, I had 48 return. We set up a tent, we had cake and we went through old stories. It was pretty great."

• Keeler said over the years he has worked on countless types of cars, the most memorable being a 1926 Chrysler and a 1952 Packard. He said the Packard was an amazing vehicle. "Just to see that huge car was very special," Keeler said. "It was so long. The engine compartment was a straight-8. It was a very unique car to work on."

HGTV stars will headline Home and Garden Show at DeVos Place

[Posted by Jim Harger | jharger@mlive.com March 03, 2015, 5:49 AM]

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Landscapers took over the DeVos Place convention center on Monday, March 2, as they began building more than a dozen gardens for the 36th Annual West Michigan Home and Garden Show.

The annual show begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 5, and continues through Sunday, March 8, at DeVos Place, 300 Monroe Ave. NW.

IF YOU GO

The 36th Annual West Michigan Home and Garden Show will be held on the following days at DeVos Place Convention Center, 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids.
• Thursday, March 5: 3-9 p.m.
• Friday, March 6: Noon-9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 7: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Sunday, March 8: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Headlining this year's show will be Dan Faires, host of the HGTV.com series, "DanMade," and Michigan native Cari Cucksey, host of the HGTV show "Cash & Cari."

Faires, will host a seminar on "upcycled design" all four days of the show on the Home Stage, showing patrons how to turn trash into treasure by creating new, modern pieces out of reclaimed and antique materials that are sustainable and budget-friendly.

The 31-year-old Arkansas native was a contestant on season five of HGTV's "Design Star" series, where he was voted the show's "Fan Favorite" despite being eliminated in the fourth episode.

This year's show also will feature a return visit by Cucksey, who will host a seminar on how turn an old piece of furniture into a new treasure on the Home Stage.

On Monday, the convention center floor was filled with heavy equipment as local landscapers brought in the sand, pavers and trees that will form the foundation of their displays.

In the center of the hall, Nick Heyboer, a landscape designer for Heyboer Landscaping, was overseeing a crew that will put an estimated 700 man-hours into building a "Cinderella"-themed garden that includes a 33-foot-tall river birch tree, a blue spruce, a paper birch and a golden curls willow tree.

The feature garden, created by the Association of Grand Rapids Landscape Professionals (AGRLP), will include a pumpkin carriage and a stream, said Heyboer. The three-day project to build the display will come down in one day next Monday, he said.

In the southwest corner of the convention center, landscaper Bruce deWit of Rosemont Nursery was supervising the construction of a "Flintstones"-theme patio, complete with the Flintstones car and stone Adirondack chairs for their relaxation.

"We do this as a great kickoff for the year," said deWit of their display. "It gives us a chance to do something we normally don't do."

Carolyn Alt, the show's manager, said this year's show will feature more than 400 exhibitors who will focus on a broad spectrum of landscaping, gardening and home improvement projects.

The show's Garden and Art Market will features dozens of booths of unique and inspired garden accessories, plants, decor, art and gifts from artists, nurseries and gift shops.

Saturday is Family Day when kids younger than 14 are admitted free before noon. Family day will included an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast for $5 a person.

The show also will include cooking demonstrations on all four days on the Standard Kitchens Cooking Stage. Chef Tommy Fitzgerald will be on the DTE Energy Grilling Deck to showcase his "Grill Skills Seminar."

Rick Darke, a landscape design consultant, author, lecturer, and photographer based in Pennsylvania, will present two seminars on Friday and Saturday. Darke blends art, ecology, and cultural geography in the creation and conservation of livable landscapes.

Birmingham coffee shop opening inside Shinola Ann Arbor store

Along with high-end watches, bicycles and journals, the Shinola Detroit store at 301 S. Main St. will be home to Ann Arbor's newest coffee shop.

Shinola announced Monday that when its Ann Arbor store opens later this spring, it will include a satellite location of Birmingham-based Commonwealth Coffee.

Approximately 2,000 square feet of space will be dedicated to Shinola's "community lounge" that will have ping pong tables, and event space as well as seating for customers. The events space can be used for public and private gatherings and will be open the same hours as the store.

The space will feature coffee provided by Commonwealth Coffee. Alexander Chisholm, a partner with Commonwealth Coffee, said the company is excited to bring its coffee to Ann Arbor.

"We know it's a great market for us to go into," Chisholm said.

Commonwealth Coffee opened in 2011 and opened its own roasting facility and café in 2012 in Birmingham, Chisholm said. The company sources its coffee from locations around the world based on the season and availability. Chisholm said most coffees are only on their menu for a couple of months at a time.

"We try to source the best coffee that we can. We have a lot of really great people on our staff," Chisholm said.

The partnership with Shinola began last year when Commonwealth Coffee opened a satellite location inside Shinola's Detroit store.

"We really like what they've started to do for the city. We're just big fans of the brand and they presented us with the opportunity," Chisholm said.

Plans are still being worked on regarding a menu for Commonwealth, but Chisholm said those won't be finalized until closer to an opening date.

The Ann Arbor Shinola location will be the company's seventh brick-and-mortar location, according to a company press release. Shinola also has locations in Minneapolis, London, Los Angeles, and Chicago with a store scheduled to open in Washington D.C. later this year.

Last week, Shinola hung signage at the Ann Arbor site, confirming what had been speculated to be the location for the retail store. The company announced in December that it would be opening an Ann Arbor location, but did not confirm where it would be located until last week.

Zeigler Auto Group to renovate BMW, Lincoln, Mitsubishi building in Kalamazoo

[Posted by Al Jones | ajones5@mlive.com March 03, 2015, 5:25 AM]

KALAMAZOO, MI -- The Harold Zeigler Auto Group plans more construction on Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo.

The business, which has done two major construction projects adjacent to its headquarters on Stadium Drive over the past five years, plans to demolish, then rebuild the front half of its original building.

The administrative headquarters is now on the second floor of the Chrysler, Dodge, Ram building that the dealership built in 2011 next door at 3939 Stadium Drive.

The 4201 Stadium building, erected in 1987, will be the last property to be upgraded or newly built on 14.5 acres the Zeigler Auto Group owns on the south side of Stadium Drive.

"Out of the 20 dealerships (buildings owned by Zeigler), that's the oldest one we've got," said Aaron Zeigler, president of the Zeigler Auto Group.

Including its locations here, in Illinois and in New York state, he said the auto group has erected 19 new buildings during the past 10 years.

Working from the 20 locations, the auto group is the parent of 61 automobile franchises. Among them are five Chrysler, Dodge, Ram franchises, three Ford franchises, two BMW franchises, two Honda franchises, and two Maserati franchises (Chicago and Grandville).

"This is the last one," he said of redevelopment on Stadium Drive. "Once we do this, everything will be brand new."

Demolition work is to begin in April and is expected to be completed by fall.

Zeigler would not say how much the business is spending on the project. The facility to be rebuilt is currently 50,000 square feet. It will be about 60,000 square feet afterward, Zeigler said.

"The round showroom will be coming down and we will have more of a square design," he said.

He said the change is being made in time for BWM to launch new car models.When demolition work starts, the BMW, Lincoln and Mitsubishi staff will work temporarily out of the adjacent buildings.

Zeigler said the auto group now employs more than 1,000 people, of which about 200 work out of its operations on Stadium Drive. The company had about 70 local employees about five years ago. Aaron Zeigler attributed the growth of employment to the auto group gaining the Honda franchise and growing business for its other franchises.

The Stadium Drive headquarters has conference space and the Honda building houses an 1,500-square-foot training center for staff members who work here and who visit here from the auto group's other locations.

In Kalamazoo, major building projects have included:

• A new 24,000-square-foot location ago for Zeigler Chrysler, Dodge, Ram at 3939 Stadium Drive. The second floor also serves as the auto group's headquarters. To build the location, the auto group acquired, then demolished the former Ground Round restaurant. It opened the new facility in December of 2011.

• A new 26,000-square-foot location for its Zeigler Honda dealership, on the westernmost portion of its property, at 4211 Stadium Drive. The auto group bought the Kalamazoo franchise rights for Honda in 2011 and built a 26,000-square-foot building to house it on Stadium Drive. That opened in April 2012.

• The auto group also built a new location seven years ago for its JD Byrider used car franchise on South Westnedge Avenue. The auto group has owned and operated that business since 2000.